How can a voltmeter be connected into a circuit to measure voltage?

Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Measuring voltage means determining the potential difference between two points, and a voltmeter is designed to draw as little current as possible from the circuit. To observe the voltage across a component without disturbing the circuit, you normally connect the voltmeter in parallel with that component so it “sits across” the two nodes you’re interested in.

In practice, there are testing situations where a meter might be placed in series to observe a voltage drop along a portion of a circuit or to monitor a particular node in a specific path. Those are less common, but they illustrate that, depending on what you’re trying to observe, the meter can be placed in different paths.

So, the answer reflects this broader applicability: a voltmeter can be connected in either series or parallel depending on the measurement goal and circuit arrangement.